Rodney Schunker is an expert mortgage broker at Kingdom Mortgages. He was called into the industry when he realized his passion for helping others understand the power of real estate as an investment, and has now been working as a mortgage broker for 12 years.

When he’s not on the clock you can find him spending time with his wife of 40 years and their 3 grandchildren.

Rodney sat down with us to discuss how being an Ourboro Referral Partner has helped him help his clients and what he predicts the market will look like over the next few months.

Can you tell us a bit about the journey to becoming an Ourboro Referral Partner?

I found Ourboro on Linkedin accidentally. I spent time researching the product and reading what it was all about. I soon realized it was a great product and partnership to have especially because of the transparency throughout the process. Ourboro broadens the horizon for more business while helping a lot of my first-time homebuyer clients. Once you understand it, Ourboro is a very good product and you will appreciate that this is a partnership you would want to have whether your a realtor, mortgage broker or homebuyer.

What’s the biggest challenge you see facing buyers today?

The biggest challenge I see homebuyers facing today is affordability. Clients don’t have the income to qualify for housing costs. That’s why Ourboro is a great option to help make ownership a reality for many people.

What trends are you seeing for first-time homebuyers? Are there any common pitfalls you see play out?

I’ve been seeing many first-time homebuyers stretching their financial budget to get in to a house. It’s important to start humbly and make sure the property you buy is affordable for you to maintain financially.

Do you have any predictions for the future of the market?

I think that at the end of 2024 and moving into 2025 and 2026, people should expect to see a boom in purchasing real estate as interest rates adjust and trend lower overall.

Who has been your most memorable client and why?

My most memorable client was a deal I worked on with Ourboro. There was a single mom with her daughter who worked three jobs. She was able to purchase a condo and break into the market thanks to co-ownership.

What’s the most common misconception people have about buying a home?

A common misconception a lot of homebuyers have is that the home they buy will be their first and last. That almost never happens. As they appreciate the pride that accompanies homeownership and the value in appreciation, they will move up to better and greater things.

What’s your favourite part of your job?

My favourite part of the job is helping others build wealth and reach their dreams of homeownership.

If you only had three words to describe your approach with clients, what would they be?

Upfront and honest.

Is there a piece of advice you often find yourself giving to your clients?

The piece of advice I often give to my clients is, make sure to save for rainy days! You never know what’s around the corner.

What’s your favourite GTA neighbourhood?

Downtown Toronto.

This interview may have been edited for both length and clarity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Ourboro.